Metrological Characterization of Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and Reduced graphene oxide nanostructures and their effects on ageing of NBR seal as reference material by gamma radiation

Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) seals are indeed utilized in nuclear environments. However, these NBR seals can experience radiation-induced damage when exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation . This deterioration may lead to a decrease in their ability to seal effectively as time goes on. This study concentrated on creating and analyzing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoparticles to improve the radiation resistance of NBR seals. Various analytical methods like Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed to assess the characteristics and efficiency of the rGO nanoparticles in order to accomplish this. Different concentrations of rGO and f-MWCNTs nanoparticles were used to make NBR nanocomposites , which were then examined using various methods including cross-linking density, mechanical properties, and thermal stability. The mechanical performance recorded significant improvements by loading with f-MWCNTs and rGO nanosheets as well as irradiation. The tensile strength (TS) results recorded large values of 4.16 MPa for NBR/1 phr f-MWCNTs and 2.57 MPa for NBR/1 phr rGO compared to unfilled NBR was 1.5 MPa at 400 kGy, by percentage 177 % and 71 % for NBR/1 phr f-MWCNTs and NBR/1 phr rGO. The elevated T max = 441 °C values of f-MWCNTs in comparison to rGO has T max = 443 °C for 1 phr f-MWCNTs and rGO respectively. Furthermore, f-MWCT nanocomposites exhibited enhanced mechanical, physical, and thermal stability when treated with γ-irradiation up to 400 kGy. • A morphology study showed good compatibility and homogeneous distribution. • The γ-radiation caused significant inter-molecular crosslinking within the rubber. • A radiation dose of 0.4 MGy yielded the best TS in the NBR/f-MWCNTs. • 1 phr f-MWCTs yielded Tmax value of 412.